Every system in your home is essential to your daily life. You rely on your electrical system to provide power to your home and your HVAC system to keep your home cool during the summer and warm during the winter. Also, your plumbing system is essential for delivering clean, treated water to your home and allows the water to drain. If there’s an issue with any part of your plumbing system, daily household tasks can be challenging or impossible, making life in your home inconvenient.
DIY home repairs are very common today. There are plenty of videos online that provide step-by-step instructions for many home repairs, and some projects make great DIY projects. Although you can find plenty of plumbing repair videos, hiring a professional is best. Plumbers undergo years of professional training and apprenticeship to learn to diagnose and repair plumbing issues. If you don’t have the necessary training, it’s best to hire a plumber in Mansfield, TX, if your plumbing system experiences any of the following issues.
#1 Leaks
Leaks are a common plumbing problem. When the pipes in your home age, they can rust and corrode, allowing water to leak. The same applies if a joint is loose or disconnected or the seal has failed.
Plumbing leaks are serious because the longer the leak persists, the more water will leak, causing significant water damage and mold growth. Also, the leak will waste a considerable amount of water, causing your water bills to increase and a call to a licensed professional is necessary.
Leaks under the sink or behind the wall are easy to detect as there will be visible signs. When you open the kitchen cabinet or bathroom vanity, you’ll see water pooling, indicating a leak under the sink. A leaking pipe behind the wall will result in water spots on the wall or the ceiling. Leaks under the sink can be more challenging to detect, and there are a few signs to look for:
- A warm basement floor
- Puddles in the yard, even though it hasn’t rained.
- Damage to your home’s foundation which often occurs when a pipe under the house has been leaking for a considerable amount of time.
- A significant increase in your water bills
If you believe there’s a leaking pipe somewhere in your home, hiring a plumber in Mansfield, TX, is best. They can find the leak and repair it before further damage occurs. If the professional cannot find the leak, they can use leak detection equipment to find the leaking pipe, allowing them to make the repair as quickly as possible.
#2 Slow or Clogged Drains
When you run the water in your home, it should flow freely down the drain. If it drains slowly, there’s likely a minor clog that prevents the water from draining correctly. Some people will try a liquid drain cleaner to break up the clog and avoid paying a licensed professional, but this isn’t the best idea. These products contain harsh chemicals designed to break up clogs and can damage the pipes in the process. Also, there’s no guarantee that the product will remove the entire clog, and it could be a matter of time before the water starts draining slowly again.
A significant clog can prevent the water from draining, resulting in standing water in the sink or tub. You won’t be able to use the fixture with the clogged drain, making life in your home inconvenient. Also, harmful organisms and bacteria can grow in the standing water, putting your family’s health at risk. Since the water won’t drain, a liquid drain cleaner will be useless.
If the water isn’t draining correctly, hiring a plumber in Mansfield, TX, is best. Plumbers have access to the necessary tools and equipment to remove a clog, such as a drain camera to find the clog and a snake, auger, or hydro-jetting equipment to remove the entire clog. When the job is complete, you won’t need to worry about the drain clogging again.
#3 Multiple Drain Clogs
If more than one drain in your home is slow or clogged, it’s unlikely they clogged simultaneously. The most common cause for multiple drain issues is a sewer line clog, which should never be ignored. Allowing the clog to remain in the sewer line will result in a sewage backup in your home, leaving a nasty, smelly mess that can make your family sick.
If you suspect there’s a clog in the line, it’s best to hire a licensed professional right away. A licensed professional can remove the clog quickly and safely, preventing a backup that can be very expensive to clean up.
#4 Toilet Clogs
Toilet clogs aren’t uncommon and aren’t usually a cause for concern. When someone in your home flushes too much toilet paper and waste, or something that shouldn’t be flushed, such as paper towels, baby wipes, a toy, and menstrual products. In most cases, plunging the toilet will break up the clog enough to be flushed. If the clog is too large, too solid, or located too far down the drain pipe, the plumber won’t work, and trying to flush the toilet to get it down will cause it to overflow. This means you can’t use the toilet until the cog is removed, which can be inconvenient, especially if you only have one bathroom. If the plunger doesn’t work, it’s best to hire a plumber in Mansfield, TX.
The plumber will use a drain auger to remove the clog, allowing the toilet to flush. If the clog cannot be reached, the plumber can remove the toilet to gain direct access to the pipe to remove the clog.
#5 Water Heater Issues
Technically, your water heater is an appliance, but it’s also an essential part of your plumbing system. The water entering your home fills the tank where it’s heated and stored, so you always have hot water when needed.
Problems with the water heater can affect the water temperature and quality and can make using it unsafe. Also, some issues can cause the tank’s contents to flood your home, resulting in severe water damage and mold growth. If your water heater exhibits any of the following signs, it’s best to hire a plumber in Mansfield, TX, as soon as possible.
- The water coming from the hot water tap is cold.
- The water doesn’t get hotter than lukewarm.
- You run out of hot water frequently.
- The unit sounds like it’s possessed.
- The hot water is brown or rust-colored.
- Poor hot water pressure
- Moisture or leaks around the unit
A plumber can inspect the unit to determine what is causing the problem and make the necessary repair. DIY water heater repair isn’t recommended because one simple mistake could cause further damage. Also, if the unit is still under warranty, a DIY repair will void it, and you’ll need to pay for all future repairs yourself.
#6 Dripping Faucet
When you turn off a tap, the water should stop running immediately. If your faucet continues dripping when you turn it off, it’s best to hire a plumber in Mansfield, TX. Many people consider a dripping faucet as nothing more than a minor nuisance, but it’s more serious than you think. According to the EPA, a faucet that drips one drop per second can waste up to 11 gallons of water daily and 330 gallons a month. Not only is this harmful to the environment, but it will also cause a considerable increase in your water bills.
A few issues can cause the faucet to drip, including:
- A worn-out washer or gasket
- A loose O ring
- Corrosion in the valve seat
- The faucet is old and should be replaced.
Ignoring the issue isn’t a good idea because the longer the problem persists, the faster the water will drip until it escalates to a steady stream and cannot be turned off.
A licensed professional can inspect the faucet to determine why it’s dripping and choose the best way to solve the problem.
#7 Running Toilet
Your toilet is designed to run after each flush to fill the tank, so it’s ready for the next flush. The water should stop running when the tank is full, but it’s best to call a plumber if it runs constantly.
If you think that a dripping faucet wastes a lot of water, you’ll be shocked by the amount of water wasted by a running toilet. You can waste up to 30 gallons of water per day and up to 900 gallons per month, causing your water bills to spike.
A few problems can cause the toilet to run constantly, including;
- A cracked or damaged flapper
- The flapper chain is broken or tangled.
- The float height needs to be adjusted.
- The refill hose is too long.
- The toilet is old and should be replaced.
A licensed plumber can inspect the toilet to determine why it continues to run and resolve the problem. It’s best to make the call as soon as the toilet starts running continuously to avoid wasting any more water and an expensive water bill.
#8 Frozen Pipes
Winter days in Mansfield, TX, are relatively mild; however, the temperature drops significantly at night and can drop below freezing. Also, a cold front or snap can cause the temperature to drop below freezing, and when this happens, your pipes can freeze.
Frozen pipes are very serious because the water in the pipes will freeze and expand, causing them to burst and causing a significant flood.
If you try to turn on the water when it’s freezing outside and nothing comes out, it’s best to hire a licensed professional immediately. The plumber can thaw the pipes quickly to prevent them from bursting. They can also give you tips to prevent your pipes from freezing when it’s frigid outside and can wrap the pipes in heated tape to keep them warm when the temperature outside drops below freezing.
Call Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Fort Worth Today
If you have an issue that requires a call to a licensed plumber, look no further than Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Fort Worth. We are a family-owned and operated full-service plumbing company, serving customers in the area for years.
Our team of highly skilled plumbers are professionally trained and have the knowledge and experience to tackle any job, regardless of the complexity.
When one of our plumbers arrives at your home, they’ll be in a fully-stocked truck, allowing them to make most repairs the same day. This is good for you because you won’t have to find time to schedule the second service call.
We understand your time is valuable, so we offer convenient appointments with short time windows. If you call for service and, if for some reason, the plumber is late, we’ll pay you $5 for every minute until they arrive.
We also understand that plumbing issues can arise at the most inconvenient times, and if you have a serious problem, don’t panic. We provide emergency service 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and we will get someone to your home to resolve the problem as quickly as possible, regardless of the day or time.
Thanks to the excellent service we provide, we’ve earned an excellent reputation in the community over the years. We’re an Accredited Business with the Better Business Bureau, with an A+ rating. We’re also a Google Approved business with a 5-star rating. In addition, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Fort Worth is featured on Home Advisor, and the site lists us as a Top Rated and Elite Service; and we have over 100 positive reviews on the platform.
We do our best to make our services as affordable as possible, and our fees are often lower than our competitors. We also have money-saving coupons on our website to help save money on the final cost of certain services.
To schedule an appointment for plumbing service, give us a call or book online at https://benjaminfranklinplumbingfortworth.com/schedule-appointment/.